"Come on Theo! We can't be late!" Angelica said excited as we hurried to the town square and saw the fireworks being set up by the lake as she grabbed my hand and we navigated our way through the crowds. "I can't believe it our country is twenty years old Theo!" Angelica said as I giggled and nodded.
"Let's go to the park and meet with your brother." I said as she rolled her eyes.
"Just because you two are publicly courting does not mean that you have to be attached at the hip." Angie playfully scoffed as I rolled my eyes.
"I am sorry but that is not a thing to say to your potential sister in law." I said teasingly as we walked into the park. "How are things with your folks?" I asked as Angie shook her head.
"They are able to be in the same room together but the tension is still there." Angie said as we walked up to Philip as he romped around with his brothers. I laughed as he looked up at me and blushed.
"Hello Philip." I said softly as he brushed some grass out of his curls. I giggled and set the large picnic basket on the ground beside me and sat down.
"Miss. Theo did you bring us dinner?" William asked me as I nodded.
"Of course William. I brought a special treat too." I said as he clapped his hands and ran off to play with his brothers. I laughed as I felt Philip touch my hand.
"You are so good with the boys." He said as I smiled.
"They are sweet." I said as we chatted for what seemed like forever as I saw Angie flirting with a boy. Angie walked back over and grabbed her parasol.
"Where are you off to?" Philip asked as his eyebrow raised.
"I am going to go sit with my new friend. Mister. Thomas Adams for a few moments." She said sassily as Philip looked past her to the young black haired gentlemen and glared at him as I touched his arm.
"That boy better buzz off now or so help me." Philip started to say as he got up.
"Philip? Are you going to beat someone up?" William asked as John jumped up.
"Can I help?!" John asked excited as Angie blushed bright red as I pulled on Philip's arm.
"Leave the girl be." I said crossing my arm as he looked at the boy then back to me and then sat down.
"Finally he has a voice of reason." Angie said as she skipped off happily to join her new friend as Philip looked at me.
"You can still keep an eye on her from here." I said as he rolled his eyes.
"I don't like her around any boy. So, help me he even looks at her the wrong way. I will get up and toss him into the lake." Philip said getting over protective as I put my hand on his face.
"Calm down please." I said as he rolled his eyes.
"Come on Theo, she is only seventeen." Philip said touching my hand as I shook my head.
"Just let her have a bit of freedom." I said as he nodded as I pulled away from him.
"Boys do, you want to have some small cakes?" I asked as Willie nodded and scurried towards me excited as I laughed.
"Hold on now. You boys needs to eat some other food first." I said as they nodded and sat patiently as the sun started to set. I pulled out some roasted chicken chopped into little cubes, some freshly baked bread and a piece of hogshead cheese. I started to divvy up the food among us four as the sun had completely set and the towns people were going around lighting candles to provide us all a bit of light. I felt my cheeks flush as Philip grabbed my hand and held onto it as the first firework went off in a burst of bright red.
"Look at that one!" Willie said pointing to it as I nodded.
"It's as red as my hair ribbon." I said as another went off with a bright white blast.
"Philip? Why are you and Miss. Theo holding hands?" John asked curious as I blushed redder as Philip chuckled.
"Because that's what people who love each other do." Philip said as William giggled with his child-like laughter.
"Philip, you love Miss. Theo?" John asked as Philip nodded and another firework went off.
"With all my heart. Someday she and I will get married." Philip said as my heart began to flutter.
"Just like when she nearly married that man Eacker?" William asked as I watched Philip think for a moment.
"No not like Eacker. She'll say yes because she loves me too much to say no." Philip said as he pecked my cheek and the younger boys snickered.
"Philip?!" I squealed liked a young school girl as I heard Philip laugh.
"Will Theo be our sister?" John asked as the two boys lost focus on the fireworks and more on Philip and I.
"I will be your sister. I'll be you, John's, Angelica and James and Eliza's sister. But I'll be Philip's wife someday." I said as he squeezed my hand.
"Will we get to come to your wedding?" William asked as I nodded.
"Of course William." I said laughing as another firework went off.
"Miss. Theo, can we have our treat now?" John asked as I nodded.
"Hang on a second." I said as I turned and pulled out a wrapped plate of small round cup sized cakes frosted with buttered cream and powder sugar. I took two of the plate and handed one to each of the small boys. "Hey you go boys." I said as they said thank you quickly and started to eat their treats contently as I smiled at them. I looked at Philip as he smiled at me. We watched the fireworks hand and hand as the boys fell asleep on the grass in front of us.
"Please go get my sister, we are going to head home. The boys are tuckered out." Philip said as I nodded. I got off the grass and walked over to Angelica as she was giggling.
"Angie, hey we are going home." I said as she looked up to me. "Do we have to?" She whined as I nodded.
"Say good bye to Mister. Adams and come help." I said as she nodded and got up.
"Thank you for keeping me company Miss. Hamilton." Adams said as Angelica gave him a small curtsey.
"Let's go Angie. Before your brother tosses him into the lake." I said as she walked with me back to the boys. I handed her the basket and helped picked up one of the sleeping boys and started to walk with Philip home. "Did you have a nice time Angie?" I asked as we walked to the Hamilton home and walked inside. Mrs. Hamilton walked out from the parlor and smiled at the sleeping young boys.
"Take them upstairs and put them in bed. I'll wake them and get them change when I check on the baby." Mrs. Hamilton said as I nodded and follow Philip upstairs. I laid the young boy on his bed and smiled at him as Philip looked at me and shook his head.
"What?" I asked confused.
"Nothing, it's sweet." Philip said as we walked out.
"Philip, would you please escort me home please?" I asked as he looked at his mother and see gave an approving nod.
"Hurry along." She said as we nodded and hurried out the door. I folded my hands neatly in lap as Philip walked me home. "I had a wonderful time tonight." I said as we walked onto my porch.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed yourself." Philip said as he peaked my cheek.
"Goodnight." I said as he nodded and I walked inside and sighed contently.
Philip and I walked peaceful, arm and armed into the park as we sat on a bench. Philip grabbed my hand and looked at me. He cleared his throat and then turned to face me.
"Theo, I want to ask you something." Philip said surprising me.
"What?" I asked as excitement grew in my stomach as he put his hand onto mine.
"Now that we have been courting since June. I asked your father for his permission, if I could ask for your hand in marriage and he gave me the okay. I wanted to ask you, Theodosia Burr would you please do me the honor and become my wife? I love you with all my heart and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I will protect you, honor, cherish and guide you. Please Theo will you marry me." Philip asked get onto one knee and pulling out the same engagement ring that he gave to me when we were secretly engaged as I covered my mouth and nodded yes. I wiped the tears from my eyes as he slipped the ring onto my finger and pulled me close to him. I am now marrying my best friend and did not have to hide it from my family. I smiled into his shoulder as he kissed my face over and over again as tears of joy came down my face.
"I love you so much." I said between the kisses as I felt into his lap. He lifted me off the ground and spun me away as I laughed freely as he kissed me. He put me down and smiled down at me.
"I finally get to marry Theodosia Burr. I'm living the good life." Philip said as I blushed in the warm summer evening.
"I'm the good life?" I asked teasingly as he nodded.
"Marrying you, graduating Kings College and going on with my life with you beside me." Philip said as I kissed him tenderly.
"You are my life line Philip. I cannot wait for us to be at the altar." I said as I cupped his cheek.
"Let's go tell my folks." Philip said as he grabbed my hand and we practically ran to his house.
"Ma! Pops!" Philip called out as his mother walked out of the parlor with his sister.
"What are you yelling about?" Angelica asked annoyed as I showed her my ring.
"Well. I thought you would like to know that I'm going to you your sister." I said as she covered her mouth.
"You?" She asked Philip as he nodded and she shrieked with delight and embraced me tightly as Mrs. Hamilton covered her mouth and hugged her son.
"My little boy is getting married." She said shocked as I let go of her and hugged Mrs. Hamilton.
"Have you told your father yet?" Mrs. Hamilton asked both of us.
"No. I haven't yet. I should be heading home actually. I'll see you tomorrow." I said as I pecked Philip cheek and hurried out the door. I walked home and walked inside quickly.
"Mandy?" I called out as she ran out of the kitchen.
"What is it ma'am?" Mandy asked as I showed her my hand.
"I need to tell Papa some good news. Is he in his study?" I asked as she saw the ring.
"Miss. Theo?! Master. Hamilton propose marriage to you?! Oh, this is amazing ma'am!" She said excited as I nodded and Papa walked out.
"What is all this shrieking about?" He asked annoyed as I took a deep breath.
"Papa, Philip proposed to me." I said as he nodded.
"I am taking it that you are happy." Papa said as I nodded. "Now promise me that you do love this boy." Papa said as I nodded.
"I do Papa. I do love Philip." I said as he nodded.
"Then I will put my emotions about his father aside." Papa said as I kissed his cheek. "Thank you Papa." I said as I walked away and walked up to my room. I went to my chest and pulled out my wedding dress and pulled it out and spun myself around while holding it to my chest as Mandy knocked on my door.
"Miss?" Mandy asked as I froze in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, Miss." She said as I put my dress back in my chest.
"It's alright. I'm fine." I said as she nodded.
"Your father said that he is leaving for the evening and wanted me to inform you." She said as I nodded.
"Alright." I said as I dismissed her and closed my door. I smiled and took out my hair ribbon and wiped off my make-up as I smiled at my reflection, and got up. I went to my book shelf and I took out one of my favorite stories and started to read in the candle light as I rubbed my eyes in tiredness.